THE MOTOR WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 May 1925, Page 15

THE MOTOR WORLD

GENERAL NOTES

Surely justice was not dc-nc to the Auckland Aut-o-momie Association by a paragraph published the other day (says an exchange;. It was stated that a number oi signs prepared by that energetic body bore the legend: “Auckland. Automobile Association, to—, miles.” Kit is really to be inferred that the A.A.A. is going to it is very sad. Alio, how does anyone know how many miles lie between it and its destination. - '

To express their disapproval of passing motor-cars, dogs i recpicnt-ly bite and snap at wheels ami tyres A sheep dog at G'reen meadows (H. 8.) went one- better (relates the A’ api re Telegraph), and went for the ear itself. The worst sufferer was the dog, which hit the ear just a,bout amidships and then was thrown back upon the road Another car followed, 50 yards behind, but the onslaught was nob repeated. The dog had learned his lesson.

Complaints are being received from motorists who have occlusion to travel through the district immediately surrounding Napier, that the dogs belonging to cattle and sheep drovers are becoming a regular nuisance f.says the Hawke’s Bay Herald). It is stated that the dogs occupy the middle of the road and refuse to budge, however much the horn is sounded, and it i>s not until a motor driver makes an absolute charge that the animals give way. It is asserted that the drovers, although not actually encouraging their dogs in this malpractice, at leasttake no steps to see that the evil is remedied.

A novel method has been suggested in France with a view to reducing or preventing reckless driving oi cars in that country. The French authorities recognise that high speed in itseli is not necessarily evidence of dangerous driving, and that what may be a safespeed in tiie- case of one car. might be highly dangerous with a different type. Some experts in that country contend that the safe speed of a c-a r is determined by the distance in which it can be brought to a standstill, and they have put forward a proposal for legalising the distance in which all cars must be capable of stopping in a given set of circumstances. For open road, the distance suggested is 22 yards, on blind corners 5 yards, in villages 11 yards. This means that on the open road the driver of a - car with powerful brakes would probably be within his rights if he travelled at 40 m.p.h. It would reduce the legal speed of some cars, however, to as low as 15 m.p.h., even on a clear road. The idea is certainly a novel one, and the principle behind it sound, but it would be extremely difficult if such regulations were brought into force, to enforce them.

The production of motor-cars and trucks in America and Canada for .January of this year totalled 240,912, or 60,009 less than the average monthly outout in those countries for 192-L The rate of exports to production was Si per cent., an increase on previous figures.

Whenever the question is raised of effectively silencing motor-cycles, the old hogv is brought forward by those interested that to lessen the noise decreases the power and utility of the machine. A practical demonstration on the Brookland Speedway, England, recently, threw further light on this subject. Owing to residents living near this world-famed track complaining of the incessant exhaust noises whilst racing and training operations were going on, the Brooklands authorities decided on a ‘‘hush-hush” race meeting, at which new silencing regulations were brought into, force. The result was that the motor-cycles that were engaged in the racing created only half the usual noise, whilst the difference made to the speeds attained were almost negligible. All machines had to have exhaust pipes fitted that discharged into a container. As evidence that ‘‘silencing has little effect on speed, H. Le Vack, the English champion motor-cyclist made an attempt on the 350 O.C. class flying start kilometre (1093 yds.) and mile world’s lightweight motor-cycle records, with silencer conforming to the official requirements attached to his machine. He succeeded in establishing on practically a silent machine, a mean- speed of 78.6 m.p.h. for the kilometre, and 77.4 m.p.h. for the flying mile. His highest speed with the wind in his favour was 83.3 m.p.h., a magnificent performance for such a small powered engine. This achievement demonstrated that as long as the silencing is carried out in a scientific manner, very little difference in the efficiency of a motor-cycle engine results from fitting it with an effective silencer.

SOUTH TARANAKI INTERESTS

ASSOCIATION GROWING STEADILY

There lias not been nmch to call for the influence of tlie South Taranaki Automobile Association recently, but it is good news indeed to know that the association continues to grow in numbers. Only bv a steady increase in numbers can the influence of the Association, which has already been nsecl to such good purpose since its formation, be used to the fullest extent. It is honed that every member will exert his influence all the time in securing new members. Recent additions to the list of members are as follow: —Messrs E. W. Horner, H. P. Vinnicombe, G. Livingston. J. Livingston, L. O. Hooker and Mrs L. R. Pease. HEAVY TRAFFIC CONTROL. The Matamata County Council, at its last meeting, resolved that under the new regulations forwarded by the Public Works Department the roads in the countv should he c'assilied for heavy traffic, the classification to he according to a map submitted, and signs to lie erected at the corners of each road showing the classification of that road and the maximum total weight in loads plus vehicle that was allowed on it. Replying to the council’s suggestion, Lhat it shoukl he compulsory for motor-lorries to be similarly classified and the classification marked plainly on each side of the vehicle so that a ratepayer would know at once when a 'orry was trespassing on a road below its grade, the ’•ncLr-se- rotary of the Department, Mr E. \V. Enrkert, wrote that this matter would hc» carefully when any amendment of the regulations was being made.

THE FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION

HEADLIGHT TESTS

Alive to the danger of dimming motor headlights on narrow country roads,

the Franklin branch of the Auckland Automobile Association decided at its last meeting to lio’d demonstrations throughout the district to encourage motorists to have* their headlights adjusted in conformity with the requirements of the by-law of the Auckland City Council.

FIRST AID TO GARS

A CANTERBURY INNOVATION

HELP FOR STRANDED MOTORISTS

In the Old'Country the system of aids to motorists has proved of great value to tourisms from abroad. Now, the Lyttelton Times says, the Canterbury Automobile Association’s firstaid* car, which is equipped with gear to assist cars of members which might have broken down on the road, has already proved - itself, giving assistance on two such occasions within a week. That such assistance is appreciated will be seen bv the following letter which has been sent to the association by Mr R. B. Cane-Williams, of Christchurch: “1 wish to express my appreciation of The- association in having a car on the road for the he'p of motorists. My car broke down returning from Sumner on Sunday. The C.A.A. car happened to come along and stopped at once, and after Mr Torrance (the driver) tried to get my engine started he towed me ln>me._ Mr Torrance was courtesy and attention personified, and in him vou have a first-class official. I felt very grateful, as it was getting dark and one had visions of having to leave the ear all night. I was pleased to think I was a member of such a progressive organisation, and had a secret satisfaction that T had paid my subscription promptly. Again express-s----ing my appreciation, etc.” The introduction of a similar innovation to Auckhmd may be a matter for consideration in due course. The disappearance of the abhorred Rangiriris, however, would rather seem to limit the sphere of usefulness. It is interesting to find that in Chicago the local automobile club has just put -sixteen first-aid cars on the roads in nlace of its old motor-cycle fleet. The cars are fitted to render al' kinds of aid, and each carries a winch and cable two hundred feet in length, by which the first-aid car from a vantage point on firm ground can haul a mired car out of the mud —evidently there is mud to be found in the vicinity of Chicago!

MOTOR-CAR’S ROUGH TRIP

TRROUUH A SEA. OF MUD

An unenviable 12-hour motor-car trip from Wellsford to Auckland was taken last week by Mr. M. E. V. Wood, of Whangaripo (says the Herald). A neighbour whose wife is seriously ill in hospital in Auckland was sent for, and Mr. Wood agreed to try to get through to Auckland by car. Taking a pair of heavy lorry chains the two- men left Wellsford at nine o’clock on Thursday night in pouring rain. To make matters worse a fiveton. lorry had crossed the Ma-takami hill just before the rain set in and had chewed out- deep ruts. All went well, however, through Wa-rkwo-rth to Waiwera. The wind had risen to a gale and the car swayed from side to side as the wheels skidded in the deep ruts. In, one place the engine and front wheel grounded and the car had to be backed clear and the holes filled with tea-tree cut from the roadside before the journey could be continued. This occurred in the darkness at three o’clock in the morning in the rain and howling: wind. Then the hood split and blew off the car, leaving the two occupants exposed to the full force of the gale. Many times a «top had to be made to tighten the skid chains, which became slack and allowed the wheels to spin round inside them. From Silverdale the engine was literally ploughing: up the mud, the wheels sinking until the- car seemed to be just- afloat in a sea of yellow slush. It was with great relief that the metal surface was finally reached and faster time made- to Devon port.

“HAVE A LIFT?”

This call, familiar in some parts, and used often by the motorist anxious to help the tramper on the road, is the text of a verj' interesting dissertation in the Auckland Star on the subject of the attitude of motorists generally. Inter alia, the writer says:— ‘‘There is a greater proportion of lifts offered just south* of Auckland than just north; and this I attribute to the fact that more of the former are small business men or farmers desirous to intermingle with men, and more of the northerners are tourists.

‘‘The happiest lift in my recolleetiou occurred this week between Manurewa and Queen Street. My Samaritan was a traveller returning home after a good day’s haul of business —and be it confessed bis car was a ‘tin Lizzie.” Rut the one nhich came most opportunely to a tired traveller occurred between Takapuna and Silverdale, where, on a Ford ton truck providentially projected in my direction, I was rocked for threequarters of an hour among kapok bed bundles and crates of poultry. The most thrilling occurred on a Sunday, when two women (as I imagined), slackened a midget racer at my side on a- lonely road and courageously invited me to enter. They proved to. be two men wearing peculiar frost-proof headgear Lined with rabbit skin. To sit squeezed between the two almost on the car’s bonnet (as the sensation suggested) while the earth slipped through beneath at a velocity of planets made one realise what could quite conceivably happen to an innocent foot-pad caiight-up helplessly by ferocious speeders on a desolate road.

Thus it will he seen that the footpad. in his solitary pilgramages, does at times encounter great dangers. Yet motorists in passing by the “stranger in the roacl” may possibly thus ho smirning an “angel in disguise.” This was brought home to me the other day on the East Coast, when a man, with laboured breathing, overtook me ‘for my company.’ He was dressed for hard work and carried a bag, and I classed him easily as a gum digger changing his ground. But wo did not exchange many ideas before I exclaimed in surprise: “How is it that a man who talks as you do should b-j wearing denims and carrying a swag?' His answer revealed him as a professional geologist whose name is more honoured among students of road metal and other minerals in North Auckland than that of any any other man. T improved the opportunity bv extracting valuable information, which would have been none the less available if I had been accommodating him in my most gorgeous limousine.

It has long been entered among my most solemn vows that when I possess my very own car. it shall certainly pick up the swagger.”